Lila A. McNamara, 98, Dickinson, died Saturday, February 14, 2015 at St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson. Lila’s funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the First Congregational Church, Dickinson, with Pastor Janel Kolar officiating. Interment will follow at the Dickinson Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, and will continue on Saturday one hour prior to services at the church.
Lila Anna Johnson was born December 7, 1916, on the family farm north of Taylor, the daughter of Hans Peter and Edna (Seifert) Johnson. She was raised and educated in the Werner area, graduating from Werner High School. She went on to attend Dickinson State Teachers College, where she earned her Teaching Certificate. Lila taught in the country school south of Werner.
Lila was united in marriage to Arthur McNamara on June 14, 1939 in Werner. Together they farmed and raised Registered Hereford cattle on their farm south of Halliday. In 1977 they retired and then would spend the summers in Dickinson and the winters in Texas. She and Arthur had built their new house in Dickinson in 1980. Arthur died on September 24, 1999. Lila remained in their home until first becoming a resident at the Evergreen and most recently at St. Luke’s.
She was a member of the Red Hat Society, St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary, and TOPS. She enjoyed writing short stories, and entering cooking, baking, and canning contests.
Lila is survived by her son-in-law, Richard Berger, Dickinson; six grandchildren, Angie Meloy, Mary Schneider, Michael Seidelman, Jim (Gayle) Berger, Mary (Dan) Huse, and Susan (Chris) Wilkins; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; two daughters, Joyce Berger and Patricia McNamara; her parents; and one brother and his wife, Roger (Ruth) Johnson.
